The Cappuccini Test: an audit of anesthesia supervision

Abstract

Background & Objective: Cappuccini test was launched on 22th May 2019, at Royal College of Anesthetists 2019 conference. This is an audit tool to improve the patient safety in anesthesia, based on lessons learned from Frankie Cappuccini’s death. It has been incorporated into standards set by Royal College of Anesthetists and into their hospital accreditation process as a quality improvement tool. We conducted this audit to explore the current status of supervision of trainees in anesthesia in our hospital and to suggest potential improvement of training standards. Methodology: This prospective audit was conducted in Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan. It was conducted for 6 weeks from June 20, 2021 to July 31, 2021. We used the tool kit provided by Royal College of Anesthetists and compared our practicing standards against Royal College of Anesthetists' newly set standard for safety of patients and healthcare staff. Results: We collected twenty-one operation lists during the audit time period. All these lists had trainees under supervision by a consultant grade anesthetist (100%).  In response to questions (1−3 and 6) related to trainees’ knowledge about who was the supervising consultant, how she/he could be contacted if needed, being able to contact and supervisor able to attend if required, were all 100%. The two questions (4 and 5) were related to supervising consultants, about their awareness of the operating list being supervised by them (90.5%) and accurate description of the nature of the work being supervised by them (81%). Conclusion: The Cappuccini test is a simple safety and quality improvement tool. It provides assurance that the trainee is working in a safe environment and has full access to contact the supervising consultant. It is a useful indicator of supervision and potential improvement of training standards. Abbreviations: AAGBI- Association of Anesthetists in Great Britain and Ireland RcoA-Royal College of Anesthetists UK; NCEPOD-National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death Key words: Cappuccini test; Patient safety; Safer surgery; Supervision Citation: Saleem H, Iqbal A, Bukhari S, Durrani RS. The Cappuccini Test: an audit of anesthesia supervision. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2023;27(4):490−495; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i4.2257 Received: November 27, 2022; Reviewed: June 04, 2023; Accepted: June 07, 2023